Garlic Harvest

Did you know that it is incredibly easy to grow your own garlic? In my area planting time is fall and harvest time is early summer. When the garlic foliage starts to turn brown, it’s your clue that it is time to dig. Usually I harvest garlic in June but this year I didn’t get to it until July. When digging, be careful to put your shovel in the ground a good distance from each plant so that you don’t accidently spear the garlic head with your shovel.

The grass is dead on purpose. When I finally have a green, weed-free lawn, I won’t know what to do.

Garlic needs to cure before it is stored. I put mine on this compost sifter that was passed on to me by my grandfather. This lets air circulate all around the garlic which helps it to dry out nicely.

After a week, I took the garlic outside to the compost pile, trimmed off the roots and stems and brushed off the dried soil. Then I let it cure for another week.

Meanwhile Mama visited and spotted the garlic blooms that I’d cut off in my compost pile. She fished them out and took them home!

When the garlic is dried, I store it in mesh bags. It’s so handy to have my own garlic supply. I don’t think I’ve purchased garlic in many years.

Garlic should be stored in a dry place. I keep mine hanging in our basement which has a dry atmosphere due to running a dehumidifier year-round.I’ll have to do a lot of cooking to use this supply! The great thing is this fall I will break a couple of bulbs apart to separate the cloves, plant those, and then I’ll have a supply for 2012.

Can you believe that this year is the first time I have used real cloves of garlic? I bought a new garlic press just for the occasion! So could I plant any garlic cloves for the following year and do they need to come from special seed quality? Thanks for this post!

I am learning so much. I never knew how to grow my own garlic. I’ll need to remember to plant some this fall ~ can you post a reminder?? 😉 Thanks for this helpful hint and yes, I. LOVE. TO. COOK. WITH. GARLIC. It can be expensive so I look forward to saving some mula.

I didn’t know you could plant the cloves, but it makes sense! I’ll have to find out when the season is here, and plant some for myself. We use garlic for almost every savory dish we cook, so it would save me a lot of money!

I love Garlic Paula! And you know what? On my way to work there is a field that has some blooms just like the ones your own dear mother is holding in her hands. I thought it was a field of onions, but maybe it’s garlic? I’ll have to keep an eye on it and maybe take my camera out there and take a picture for you, it’s a huge, huge field!

My own mom uses tons of garlic in her chile colorado and chile beans and home made salsa and wow…now I’ve gone and made myself hungry :0)

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I’m a homebody who loves to be active. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I love to decorate, craft, garden, read, and sew. My very favorite thing to do is to sweat, and when I’m not DIYing, I’m likely to be at the gym. I also enjoy spending time with my sweet dog, Sherman.